Up Periscope
Bobby Thalhimer
Feb 06, 2011
As I nurse myself through the flu this weekend (yes, I was vaccinated), I cogitate on how our perspectives tend to narrow as we age and how we have to fight that narrowing tooth and nail. Over time our reducing mobility, diminishing mental capacity and increasing acceptance of a comfortable routine diminish our exposure to external stimuli and impair our ability to think ever more broadly.
We need to expand our horizons simply to remain relevant. Continuously changing family, community and world conditions require that we stay at the top of our game. How do we keep our edge? How do we raise our periscopes to see beyond the narrowing walls of our existence?
Many opportunities exist close to home. The University of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University present a wide variety of educational and cultural options, for instance. Programs such as those offered by the World Affairs Council and the Richmond Forum bring nationally known thought leaders to town. We can explore museums and experience symphony, opera, ballet and theater locally and nationally produced.
To me, nothing beats travel when it comes to raising my periscope. I am a hands-on learner. Reading a book is fine as far as it goes, but it is not my best means of gaining, internalizing and synthesizing new information.
So, here is the dilemma. My dad told me years ago that I was not adequately educated unless I travel to Asia. It is a fact that many of the world’s most important economies and cultures are many time zones away. How do we find the time to experience what is happening in these faraway places before retirement age, at which point our health may limit our mobility?
A sabbatical is the answer, and that is what I will begin in 2011. Look for Bobby’s Blog to be reflective of observations from Japan, China, India, Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia and Russia, just to name a few of the places I plan to visit in 2011 and 2012. As a warm up, I will soon travel to Costa Rica, where I will explore its fascinating ecosystem.
There is much I want to learn and to share. I want to understand first-hand how people in faraway places live and think. I want to extend my viewpoint beyond Western culture. What is really happening in “emerging markets?” How is industrial growth and of the emergence of new wealth changing ancient cultures and impacting their political systems? How will people in the U.S. be affected by these changes during the coming decades, and how should we adjust our thinking? How do other societies deal with issues like aging, poverty and health care? What is working, and what is not?
We can hear “expert” opinions 24/7 in the media and online. However, to gain truly unbiased information we have to extend ourselves beyond sound bites and explore on our own. How many of the people opining about emerging markets have ever experienced one? I look forward to sharing my exploration with you in 2011 and 2012, and I invite your questions and thoughts as I go along.
No rumors, please! I will continue working at The Community Foundation before, during and after my travels.
Meanwhile, as I nurse the flu, newspapers and the Internet are my friends. External stimuli abound without ever leaving the living room. Up periscope! Go Steelers!
Your dad is absolutely right education is incomplete without visiting Asian country. I and my family are travelers. I always teach my kids that you have to change your gears. Don’t expect other country to be like America. Suite yourself and enjoy the most what you get. No electricity ok see and learn how these people manage without electricity. Dirt and bumpy roads instead of complaining enjoy the bumpy rides. Look around and see how kids enjoy the very simple meal they get. They don’t waste. Sometimes it’s heart breaking and shocking. But you learn so much about their diverse culture, their simplicity just by observing and by enjoying their festivals.
Wish you a happy journey.
Jun. 10, 2011 at 08:52 AM
Bobby, its not that hard. Just read external media (AJE, FT, RT) and you’ll get a variety of perspectives - much more relevant than US regional media, at that. Pay close attention to the in-depth reporting and documentaries.
I’ve never left the Americas, but when it comes to foreign cultural and political landscapes, I now have a keen sense that the nightly news broadcasters have less of a sense of many places than I do. And this is purely from watching channels like Al Jazeera for years - an organization which has exclusive presences in so many third world countries.
I don’t think its the individual that is to blame - the readily available media, which touts its own objectivity, is far more narrow than the people I grew up with. And that is precisely the mechanism which narrows our perspectives.
Feb. 23, 2011 at 10:35 AM
Bobby,
I look forward to reading your travel notes. You’re right on target about the valuable insights that come from “on the ground ” experiences in other countries. Having traveled to Australia for six weeks some years ago, I’d advise you to visit the smaller cities and towns and contact local Rotary Clubs to visit.
Travel well.
Bob
Feb. 21, 2011 at 12:20 PM
Travel well and travel safely, Bobby! I hope to keep up with your bloggings during your travels!
Feb. 11, 2011 at 03:48 PM
Bobby,
Your blogs are always enriching and thought provoking! I had the pleasure of sharing an eye-opening experience travelling with my then 19-year-old daughter to Dakar, Senegal. The richness of this experience is still with her, ten years later. Such travel creates a sense of pride in being an American and an appreciation of being the recipent of both cultural and material wealth; conversely, travel abroad can magnify innocence lost!
Travel safely; I await your blogs from the far east!
Feb. 8, 2011 at 04:21 PM
Happy Travels!!!
Feb. 7, 2011 at 08:33 PM
A sabbatical is a wonderful choice and your father’s advice was excellent! I took time away from work to work toward a Ph.D. and found that not only did my co-workers keep up with my duties, they expanded thier knowledge and responsibilities in my absence. I returned refreshed,better educated and was able to promote several co-workers because they had expanded their horizons. I look forward to reading of your adventures!
Feb. 7, 2011 at 09:33 AM
Cool! Looking forward to your post!
Feb. 6, 2011 at 11:36 PM
Bobby, the only way to know what’s happening around the world is to go there. The little travel I’ve enjoyed has opened my eyes to what a great country we have, but also what is working better overseas than here. Have a great time, learn a lot, and share the good, the bad and the ugly you experience. I look forward to reading all about what you see.
Feb. 6, 2011 at 09:39 PM
Thanks for reminding me to stretch. I had been pondering similar things, a stubborn stagnation and complacency that was never present in my 40s. Also a good reminder to keep a healthy eye on your bucket list! I can’t manage Asia, but I look forward to reading your blog from points far east.
Feb. 6, 2011 at 05:52 PM
i like your philosophy of traveling to stay sharp. if you go to asia, i highly recommend visiting bhutan. i spent a week there in 1997 and it is a real eye opener. also, i recommend the $2 a night hotels in thailand. it gets you out into the open and in with the culture which you will never get at the ritz or the peninsula. good luck and send postcards.
Feb. 6, 2011 at 03:46 PM
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